how to back wash pool filter

Author: Poolking - Swimming Pool Equipment Manufacturer

How to Backwash Your Pool Filter – The Ultimate Guide

During the summer months, your pool filter works overtime to keep your pool looking fresh and clean. However, all that hard work can take its toll on your filter, clogging it up with dirt and debris. This can lead to poor water quality and reduced filter performance.

Thankfully, there is a solution – backwashing. In this guide, we’ll explain what backwashing is, how to do it correctly and how often you should be doing it to keep your pool filter running smoothly.

1. What is Backwashing?

Backwashing is the process of reversing the flow of water through your pool filter to remove any dirt, debris or other contaminants that have built up in the filter media. By backwashing your pool filter, you are effectively flushing out any unwanted materials and restoring your filter to working order.

2. How to Backwash Your Pool Filter

Before you begin, it’s important to ensure that your filter is designed for backwashing. Most sand and DE filters can be backwashed, but cartridge filters usually cannot.

Step 1: Turn off the Pump

Before beginning the backwash process, it’s important to turn off the pump that circulates water through your pool filter. This is to prevent any damage or accidents from occurring during the backwash process.

Step 2: Turn the Multiport Valve to Backwash

The next step is to turn the multiport valve on your pool filter to the “backwash” setting. This will reverse the flow of water through your pool filter and flush out any debris.

Step 3: Turn on the Pump

Once the valve is set to backwash, turn on the pump and let it run for about two minutes or until the water flowing out of the backwash port runs clear.

Step 4: Rinse the Filter

After backwashing, it’s important to rinse your filter thoroughly to remove any remaining debris. To do this, turn the multiport valve to the “rinse” setting and let the pump run for about 30 seconds.

Step 5: Return the Valve to Normal Operating Position

Once the filter has been rinsed, turn the multiport valve back to its normal operating position and turn on the pump again. Your pool filter is now back to working order.

3. How Often Should You Backwash?

The frequency of backwashing your pool filter depends on a few factors, such as the size of your pool, the type of filter you have, and how often you use your pool. A general rule of thumb is to backwash your pool filter once a week, but you may need to do it more often during periods of heavy use or if you live in an area with a lot of environmental debris.

4. Maintaining Your Pool Filter

In addition to backwashing, it’s important to regularly maintain your pool filter to keep it performing at its best. This includes:

- Checking and cleaning your filter basket regularly

- Replacing or cleaning your filter media when necessary

- Checking and adjusting your pool’s pH levels

By following these steps, you can ensure that your pool filter is running efficiently and keeping your pool looking pristine throughout the summer months.